Tool and support therefor



Nov. 1, 1966 L. G. ROLLINS 3,282,629

TOOL AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Aug. 5, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet} FIG-l.

INVENTOR LESTER G. ROLLINS ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1966 L. e. ROLLINS 3,282,629

TOOL AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Aug. 5, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4.

H6 5 .4 FIG.6.

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LESTER G. ROLLINS ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1966 1.. G. ROLLINS 3,232,629

TOOL AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Aug. 5, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG- 7 lliiil INVENTOR. LESTER G. ROLLINS Nov. 1, 1966 G. ROLLINS 3,282,

TOOL AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Aug. 5, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG- INVEN LESTER 6. ROLL United States Patent 3,282,629 TOOL AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Lester G. Rollins, 936 Liberty St., Franklin, Pa. Filed Aug. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 479,691 12 Claims. (Cl. 29985) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 316,202 filed October 10, 1963, now abandoned which was a continuation of my application Serial No. 5,842, filed February 1, 1960, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to .an improved tool and support prior structures the cutting path or lacing pattern of the bits are inflexibly set so that if any change is desired it is necessary to rebuild the boring head. In addition, such prior structures require the use of a torch or some similar device to remove the holder from the boring head when a bit holder becomes worn or broken.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a mining machine of the boring type with new and improved cutter mounting blocks so as to afford greater efficiency.

A further object of this invention is to provide the cutting head of a mining machine with replaceable bit supporting blocks having limited play between them and the mounting blocks therefor to permit the bit supporting blocks to chatter when in work engaging position.

A further object of this invention is to provide the cutting head of a mining machine with replaceable block holders and bit supporting blocks so that the tool bits supported thereby can be mounted in various lacing patterns.

A further object of this invention is to provide the cutting head of a mining machine with replaceable bit blocks having a clearance space between the bit block pins and the mounting blocks as well as clearance between the bit blocks and the surfaces of the mounting blocks engageable therewith.

A further object of this invention is to provide the rotary arm of a mining machine with replaceable bit blocks which have bores therein which are coaxial with bores in the rotary arms with the bores of the arm being larger in diameter so that a pin extending through the coaxial bores maintains the blocks and arm securely together while permitting play therebetween.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent when taken in conjunction with the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof and the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elev-ational view of the forward portion of a boring type mining machine;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of a portion of a boring head of the mining machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the spaced cutter blocks showing the bits in staggered rela tions;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the replaceable tool blocks and bracket on the boringhead of the mining machine;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the tool blocks and the mounting blocks therefor taken substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 3;

I 3,282,629 Patented Nov. 11,1966

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a tool block and mounting block therefor taken substantially on the line 66 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of a boring arm showing a second embodiment of a bit block and mounting block constructed according to the principles of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of a boring arm showing a third embodiment of a bit block and mounting block constructed according to the principles of this invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 11-11 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of a fourth embodiment of the bit block and mounting block of this invention;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 13-13 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a fifth embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 1515 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a sixth embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 17-17 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of a seventh embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 19-19 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 20 is a top plan View of an eighth embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates the forward portion of a mining machine 1 of the boring type which machine 1 may be of any suitable type as is well known in the art. As shown, the machine 1 has a main frame 2 mounted upon suitable crawler treads 3 for propelling the machine along a mine floor or the like. The main frame 2 supports at its forward end a pair of laterally spaced rotatable hubs 6 which suitably support laterally spaced, elongated, coacting boring heads 4; respectively (only one of which is shown), in a manner as is well known in the art. Each boring head 4 has a pair of radially extending arms 5 suitably secured to hubs 6 to rotate therewith. Each arm 5 has a plurality of radially spaced cutter carrier element-s 7, 8 and .9. Cutter carrier elements 10 are also suitably secured to the hubs 6 substantially coaxial with the hubs 6, respectively. As shown, cutter carrier element 9 is located on arm 5 relatively close to the hub 6, cutter element 8 is located further radially outwardly on arm 5 from hub 6 and cutter carrier element 7 is located at the outer end of arm 5. Referring to FIG. 2 the cutter carrier elements 7-9 are arcuate in form and project forwardly from the arm 5 so as to cut concentric annular rings in the face of the material being bored. Inasmuch as the structure of such boring head for mining machines is well known further description thereof is not believed to be necessary.

As indicated, the carrier element 7 is arcuate having a forward arcuateed-ge 14 which extends substantially on an arcuate line having a center at the axis of rotation of the hub 6. In order to accomplish the purposes of this invention a series of generally rectangular mounting blocks 16 are welded to the forward edge 14 to form an elongated support extending forwardly from the edge 14 and which in general conforms to the arc of the forward edge 14. The mounting blocks may also be welded to each tool bit socket 23 at right angles.

it will be noted that the axes of the bores 17 of the adjacent blocks 16 are equidistant from the forward projecting edge 14.

Mounted on the mounting blocks 16 are elongated tool bit blocks 18 respectively, each of which on a lateral plane has a generally U-shaped cross section. Each block 18 'has a forwardly located bight portion 50 with spaced side arm portions 19 extending rearwardly therefrom and with a bit supporting portion 20 extending forwardly therefrom. Each arm portion 19 of each bit block 18 has a pair of laterally aligned longitudinally spaced bores 21 extending laterally therethrough which bores 21 are -longitudinally spaced from each other to register with the spaced bores 17, respectively of a mounting block 16. In

use the tool bit blocks 18 are located on the mounting blocks 16, respectively, and cylindrical pins 22 inserted into the registered bores 21 and 17, respectively, to hold the blocks 18 and 16 together. The bores 17 of the mounting blocks 16 are larger in diameter than the bores 21 of the tool bit blocks 18 so that a cylindrical pin 22 is suitably retained in an aligned pair of bores 21 and 17 such as by being press fitted in the bores 21 with substantial clearance between the pins 22 and the bores 17. In addition, the side a-nm portions 19 of the U-shaped memher are laterally spaced from each other a greater distance than the thickness of the blocks 16 to provide clearance relative to the mounting blocks 16 when the tool bit blocks 18 are mounted thereon. By providing this clearance space between the blocks 18 and 16 together with the clearance afforded by the oversized bore 17 relative to the bore 21 of the tool bit blocks 18 suflicient play is provided to permit a chattering action of the tool bit blocks 18 on the respective mounting blocks 16 when the boring head of the boring machine 1 is rotated. It has been found that such chattering action is effective to provide sufficient vibration to the cutter bits to reduce bit breakage.

Referring to FIG. 5 the tool bit blocks 18 are also provided with tool bit sockets 23 that extend through the bight portion 50 of the blocks 18 outwardly through the projecting portion 20. The tool bit sockets 23 are dis posed in the various tool bit blocks 18 at varying angles with respect to the arm portions 19 so that upon assembling the tool bit blocks 18 on mounting blocks 16, the sockets 23 are disposed at any desired angle with respect to the forward projecting edge 14 of the carrier element 7. As shown, bits 25 are suitably secured in the sockets 23 of the tool bit blocks 18, respectively, so that the various lacing patterns of the bits 25, as desired, may be obtained. At any convenient time the lacing pattern of the bits 25 may be changed by rearranging the tool bit blocks 18 as desired.

Each projecting portion 20 of a tool bit block 18 is provided with a threaded bore 26 that extends completely later-ally through the projecting portion 20 and intersects Rotata-bly mounted in the threaded bores 26 are suitable set screw means 27 for rigidly securing the tool bits 25 in their respective sockets 23 of the mounting blocks 18.

It is to be noted that mounting the bits 25 loosely in the sockets 23 will not accomplish the objects of this invention since such looseness will promote rather than reduce bit breakage as provided for by the structures developed under this invention. The foregoing is, however, not to be construed as limiting the application. of this invention to a particular method of securing the bits 25 in the sockets 23 since resilient keepers and other restraining means can be used without departing from the scope of this invention.

It is further to be noted that the objects of this invention can be achieved by making the bores 17 in mounting blocks 16 small enough to provide a driving fit with the pins 22 and at the same time enlarging the bit block bores 21 to provide the required clearance relative to the pins 22.

FIGS. '7 and 8 are views of a mounting block 30 similar to the mounting block 16 in FIGS. 2 through 6 and of a bit block 32 similar to the bit block 18 of FIGS. 26 having spaced arm portions 33 disposed on opposite sides of the mounting block 30 but spaced therefrom as described for the arm portions 19. Each arm portion 33 has a single stepped bore 34 having a counter bore 35 with the bore 34 extending through one of the arm portions 33 coaxial with one of a pair of stepped bores 31 in mounting block 30. In FIGS. 7 and 8 the pin 22 of FIG. 6 is replaced by a threaded retaining member such as a cap screw 36 threadedly engaged with a nut 37 having a stepped cylindrical outer surface and provided with a hollow cylindrical spacer member 38 of a suitable length so that when the nut 37 is tightened on the cap screw 36 the head of the cap screw 36 is spaced outwardly from the mating surface of the counter bore 35 while the diameter of the bore 34 is greater than the outside diameter of the spacer 38 so that suflicient play is provided to permit a chattering action of the tool block 32 on the mounting block 30 as a second embodiment of the principles of this invention.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a third embodiment of the principles of this invention wherein a mounting block 40 similar to the mounting block 16 has a pair of longitudinally spaced, parallel, stepped bores 41 and has mounted thereon a bit block 42 similar to the bit block 18 excepting that bit block 42 is provided with a single arm portion 43 offset to one side of the bit block 42 so that the main body portion of the bit block 42 analogous to the bight portion or hit supporting portion 20 is disposed adjacent the forward portion of the mounting block 40. The arm portion 43 is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced, parallel, stepped bores 44 coaxial with the bores 41 having counterbore portions 45 in the surface of the arm portion 33 remote from the bit block 40. A pair of internally threaded hollow retaining members such as nuts 46 mounted in the bores 41 are threadedly engaged by externally threaded retaining members such as cap screws 47 having mounted thereon hollow cylindrical spacers 48 extending between the nuts 46 and the heads of the cap screws 47. The spacers 48 are of such length that when the nut 46 is tightened on the bolt 47 the head of the cap screw 47 will be spaced slightly outwardly from the bottom of the counterbore portion 45 and the outside diameter of the spacer 48 is substantially smaller than the inside diameter of the bore 44. The clearances thus provided allow for chattering action of the bit block 42 on the mounting block 40 to accomplish the purpose of this invention.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrating a fourth embodiment of the principles of this invention show a fragmentary portion of a mounting block 50 similar to the mounting block 16 having mounted thereon a bit block 51 similar to bit block 18 and having arm portions 49 spaced apart by distance greater than the thickness of the mounting block 50 and having mating bores in the arm portions 49 and the mounting block 50 as described for the arm portions 19 and the bit block 18 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-6. The pins 22 of the first embodiment are replaced in this embodiment by cap screws 52slidably tion 53 of a length greater than the thickness of the mounting block 50 and of an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the bores in the mounting block 50 so that when the cap screw 52 is tightened the spacing between the arm portions 49 will be maintained as greater than the thickness of the mounting block 50 thus providing clearances for chattering action to accomplish the objects of this invention.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrating a fifth embodiment of the principles of this invention show fragmentary portions of a mounting block 56 and a bit block 58 very similar to the mounting block 50 and the bit block 51 of FIGS. 11 and 12 but employing in the mating bores thereof an elongated cylindrical headed pin 55 closely fitted to the bores in the arm portions and held therein by a retaining means such as a split washer 59 seated in a groove adjacent the end of the pin 59 opposite the head of the pin. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 a spacer bushing 57 is closely received by the bore in the mounting block 56 but has an inside diameter substantially greater than the outside diameter of the pin 59 to allow clearance for the chattering action necessary to accomplish the object of this invention.

FIGS. and 16 illustrating a sixth embodiment of the principles of this invention show a fragmentary portion of one of the mounting blocks 16 provided with a bit block 62 very similar to the bit block 18 except that the mating bores of the blocks 16 and 62 are provided with a pair of threadedly engaged externally stepped cylindrical retaining means comprising a cap screw 63 and a cap nut 64 rigidly secured together in threaded engagement and of suitable length so that the head portions of the cap screw 63 and the nut 64 lightly engage the arm portions of the bit block 62 without distorting the arm portions of the bit block 62 thereby preserving the clearance between the arm portion 62 and the mounting block 16 and because the diameter of the body portion of the cap screw 63 and the nut 64 is less than the internal diameter of the bore 17 the double clearances desirable for the maintaining of the chattering action is provided.

FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate a seventh embodiment of this invention very similar to that shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 excepting only that the mounting block 56 is engaged with a bit block 66 similar to the bit block 58 in all respects excepting only that it is provided with a partially threaded stepped bore 69 intersecting the main bore in one of the arm portions and threadedly receiving therein a set screw 68 having an end portion engaging a groove in the end portion of an elongated headed cylindrical pin 67 to retain the pin 67 in the arm portions of the bit block 66 in place of the split washer 58 of FIGS. 13 and 14. The clearances in the embodiment of FIGS. 17 and 18 are the same as those described for FIGS. 13 and 14 to provide the chattering action necessary to accomplish the objects of this invention.

FIGS. 19 and illustrate an eighth embodiment of the principles of this invention wherein a bit block 72 having arm portions 73 is engaged with a mounting block 76 having bores 74 therein located similarly to the bores 17 or the mounting block 16 but of larger diameter and having in each bore 7 4 a hollow cylindrical resilient bushing 75 of relatively firm but resiliently deformable rubber like substance such as neoprene. An elongated cylindrical pin 78 provided with a rectangular key way slot 79 extending the full length of the pin :78 is tightly fitted to the bores in the arm portion 73. An elongated generally U-shaped anti-spread bar 81 is seated in the key way '79 and has leg portions extending outwardly beyond and engaged with the outer surface of the leg portion 73 to .prevent spreading of the leg portion when forces are applied to the bit block 72 in cutting mineral as is known. The arm portions 7 3 are spaced apart by a distance greater than the thickness of the mounting block 76 and the resilient bushing 74 allows relative movement between the pin 78 and the mounting block 76 to provide chattering action to accomplish the objects of this invention.

.It is to be noted in assembling the device illustrated in FIGS. 19' and 20 that the anti-spread bar 81 is installed before the pin '7 8 is driven into place. The key way 79 being the full length of the pin 78 allows the pin 78 to slide along the bar 81 as it is driven into the first arm portion 73- through the resilient bushing 75 and into the second arm portion 73 to accomplish assembly of the embodiment of FIGS. 19 and 20.

It is further to be noted that in several of the foregoing embodiments (especially that of FIGS. 1-3 and 14) a resilient bushing could be used to provide for relative motion between the pin and the mounting block or between the pin and the bit block as desired.

Preferred embodiments of this invention having been hereinbefore described and illustrated it is to be realized that variations therein may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of this invention. It is therefore respectfully requested that this invention be iuterpreted as broadly as possible and that it should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mining machine comprising, a rotatable boring head, said head having a plurality of mounting blocks secured thereto, each of said mounting blocks having at least one hole extending therethrough, tool holding blocks mounted on said mounting blocks respectively, at least one tool secured in each of said tool holding blocks, each of said tool holding blocks having at least one hole therein, said tool holding block holes being aligned with said holes of said mounting blocks respectively, said holes of said mounting block being larger in cross section than the cross section of said holes of said tool holding blocks, securing means extending through said aligned holes respectively for retaining said tool holding blocks on said mounting blocks in spaced relationship therewith for providing a chattering action of said tool holding blocks on said mounting blocks, and said securing means providing a clearance space and a frictional fit between said securing means and said holes of said mounting blocks and tool holding blocks respectively.

2. A cutter arm comprising, a plurality of mounting blocks secured to said arm, each of said mounting blocks having a plurality of bores extending laterally therethrough, tool blocks mounted on said mounting blocks respectively, at least one bit receiving socket in each of said 1001 blocks, each of said tool blocks having a plurality of holes coaxial with said bores in said mounting block co-operable therewith, said bores of said mounting block being of larger diameter than the said holes of said tool blocks, pins of substantially the same diameter as said holes extending through the respective holes for retaining said tool blocks on said mounting blocks for permitting limited play therebetween wherein said pins provide sub stantial clearance space between said pins andthe walls of said bores of said mounting blocks and a frictional driving fit between said pins and walls of said holes of said tool blocks, and bits secured in said sockets respectively.

3. A bit support comprising: an elongated support member having two parallel transverse bores therethrough; a bit block mounted on said support member and having at least one arm portion extending along the side surfaces of said support member and spaced outwardly from said side surfaces, at least one bore in each of said arm portions coaxial with and larger in diameter than said parallel bores; externally threaded stepped cylindrical fastening means having a cylindrical portion extending through said coaxial bores; a tubular spacer on each of said cylindrical portions internally fitted to said cylindrical portions and externally fitted to said parallel bores in said support member and; stepped cylindrical internally threaded retaining means, threadedly engaged with said fastening means, respectively, with the end of said tubular spacer extending between and abutting the fastening and retaining means said spacer being of suflicient length to maintain said outward spacing.

.block fixedly secured to said support and having an open ing extending therethrough, a replaceable tool block having spaced portions located at the axially opposite ends of said opening, respectively, bores extending through said spaced portions of said tool block coaxial with said opening, securing means extending through said bores and said opening, and said securing means being rigidly secured to ,said spaced portions with the portion thereof extending through said opening being of a diameter substantially less than the diameter of said opening.

7. A cutter head comprising, a support, a plurality of mounting blocks fixedly secured to said support in spaced relationship, said mounting blocks having openings extending therethrough respectively, replaceable tool blocks having spaced portions located outwardly adjacent the opposte ends of said openings, respectively, bores extending through said spaced portions of said tool blocks coaxial with said openings, respectively, securing means extending through said bores and said openings, respectively, and

said securing means being rigidly secured to said spaced portions with the portion thereof extending through said openings being of a diameter substantially less than the daimeter of said openings, respectively.

8. A cutter head comprising, a support, a mounting block fixedly secured to said support and having an opening extending therethrough, a replaceable tool block having spaced portions located at the axially opposite ends of said opening, respectively, bores extending through said spaced portions of said tool block coaxial with said opening, said bores being of substantially smaller diameter than the daimeter of said opening, securing means having a cylindrical portion extending through said bores and said opening, said securing means having a diameter substantially equal to the daimeter of said bores being rigidly secured to said spaced portions.

9. A cutter head comprising, a support, a plurality of mounting blocks fixedly secured to said support in spaced relationship, each of said mounting blocks having openings extending therethrough, replaceable tool blocks having spaced portions located at the axially opposite ends of said openings, respectively, bores extending through said spaced portions of said tool blocks coaxial with said openings, respectively, said bores being of substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of said opening, securing means having a cylindrical portion extending through said coaxial bores and openings, respectively, said securing means having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said bores being rigidly secured to said spaced portions, respectively.

10. A bit support comprising: an elongated support member having two parallel transverse bores therethrough; a bit block mounted on said support member and having two arm portions extending along opposite side surfaces of said support member and spaced outwardly from said side surfaces, two bores in each of said arm portions coaxial with and smaller in diameter than said parallel bores, two of said arm portion bores being internally threaded; cap screws each having a cylindrical portion extending through said coaxial bores and threadedly engaged with said threaded bores; a tubular spacer longer than the transverse dimension of said support member on each of said cylindrical portions, internally fitted to said cylindrical portions and having an outside diameter substantially less than said parallel bores in said support member.

11. A bit supporting comprising: a support member, a

tool block member mounted on said support member in spaced relationship thereto, said tool block member having a socket therein for receiving a cutter bit, fastening means securing said tool block member to said support member to allow limited relative movement therebetween, said support member having a bore coaxial with at least one bore in said tool block member with said bore in 'said support member being of substantially greater diameter than said bore in said tool block member, said fastening means has a generally cylindrical portion extending through said bores for securing said tool block member and said support member together, said fastening means having one portion rigidly secured to said tool block memher and another portion captively located within said bore within said support member, said other portion of said fastening means being spaced from the surface defining said bore in said support member sufficiently to permit chattering action of said tool block member upon said support member.

12. A bit support as specified in claim 11 wherein a resilient bushing is fitted around said cylindrical portion within said bore in said support member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,156,147 10/1915 Karns 175-291 2,418,199 4/1947 Simmons 299-91 X 2,664,120 12/l953 Hinkley 299-82 X 2,690,904 10/1954 Muscham'p et al 2999l 2,987,332 6/1961 Bonmartini 37l42 X ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Examiner. 

1. A MINING MACHINE COMPRISING, A ROTATABLE BORING HEAD, SAID HEAD HAVING A PLURALITY OF MOUNTING BLOCKS SECURED THERETO, EACH OF SAID MOUNTING BLOCKS HAVING AT LEAST ONE HOLE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, TOOL HOLDING BLOCKS MOUNTED ON SAID MOUNTING BLOCKS RESPECTIVELY, AT LEAST ONE TOO SECURED IN EACH OF SAID TOOL HOLDING BLOCKS, EACH OF SAID TOOL HOLDING BLOCKS HAVING AT LEAST ONE HOLE THEREIN, SAID TOOL HOLDING BLOCKS HOLES BEING ALIGNED WITH SAID HOLES OF SAID MOUNTING BLOCKS RESPECTIVELY, SAID HOLES OF SAID MOUNTING BLOCK BEING LARGER IN CROSS SECTION THAN THE CROSS SECTION OF SAID HOLES OF SAID TOOL HOLDING BLOCKS, SECURING MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ALIGNED HOLES RESPECTIVELY FOR RETAINING SAID TOOL HOLDING BLOCKS ON SAID MOUNTING BLOCKS IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH FOR PROVIDING A CHATTERING ACTION OF SAID TOOL HOLDING BLOCKS ON SAID 